eldritch
[ el-drich ]
/ ˈɛl drɪtʃ /
Save This Word!
adjective
eerie; weird; spooky.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Also el·drich; el·ritch [el-rich] /ˈɛl rɪtʃ/ .
Origin of eldritch
First recorded in 1500–10; earlier elrich, elphrish; of disputed origin: probably elf + Middle English riche “realm, kingdom”
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use eldritch in a sentence
The little man laughed a little laugh, sharp and eldrich, at the strange cowardice of the stalwart dare-devil.
What Will He Do With It, Complete|Edward Bulwer-LyttonIn one of their walks, which had been protracted more than usual, they were returning homewards by the Eldrich Stone.
She did it with a look of hesitation and bashfulness, quite unlike the eldrich boldness and brightness which was usual with her.
Uncle Tom's Cabin|Harriet Beecher StoweYou cannot imagine what a weird effect these eldrich bushes had upon my mind.
The Shirley Letters from California Mines in 1851-52|Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe
British Dictionary definitions for eldritch
eldritch
eldrich
/ (ˈɛldrɪtʃ) /
adjective
poetic, Scot unearthly; weird
Word Origin for eldritch
C16: perhaps from Old English ælf elf + rīce realm; see rich
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012